Internal-combustion engine.



No. 677,898. Patented July 9, I90I. o. SNELL. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

(Application filed July 28, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

F mi M I 3 ,II

I 17 19 r 9 2 IV I l NW L L: I; L (J "A a "II T Fig. 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTQR:

THE uoflms PEYERS on mamuma, wAswmmn. n. c.

Patented July. 9, I905.

0. SNELL. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

[Application 11106. July 28, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

lWENTQR: Wow $4464,

WITNESSES: m.

1-H: udams Pm'ca. murou'rna. vusnmncu, 04 c.

Patented July 9, I90I.

0. SNELL. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

(Application filed July 28, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

w: "bums FUCHS 60.. Puuvuuma. wAsmuoYm, n c.

speed-reducing shaft mounted across between U ITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

OSCAR SNELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALEXANDER E. KEITH, OF SAME PLACE.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

SPECIFICATZFON forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,898, dated July 9, 1901. Application filed July 28, 190i). Serial No. 25,178. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR SNELL,a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have in-' vented a new and useful Internal-Combustion Engine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to internal-combustion engines which usually employ gas, gasolene, or kerosene as a source of power; and my object is to provide such a compact and perfectly-balanced system of mechanism that it is particularly adapted to the duty of propelling automobiles, launches, and for other similar purposes, where the propelling mechanism must necessarily occupy a very limited space and in action be free from the annoying vibrations incident to the use of unbalanced reciprocatory movements.

This invention consists, essentially, in the combination of a plurality of reciprocatory piston, gas, gasolene, or petroleum engines having the cylinders thereof arranged relatively, so that the crank-shafts thereof are geared to a common power-transmitting and the cylinders and the crank-shafts, so that in combination with balances arranged on the crank-shafts for balancing the movements of the reciprocating parts the revolutions of the crank-shafts are held to revolve in unison and in such relative positions that any overbalancing out of the direction of the reciprocatory movements is practically neutralized.

This invention also consists in proportioning the gearing connecting the crank-shafts with the power-transmitting an d speed-red ucing shaft, so that the number of revolutions of the last-named shaft is a multiple of the number of revolutions of the first-named shafts, whereby the valves of the several closely-assembled engines may be operated by motion imparted from the second-named shaft without relatively changing its speed, as is hereinafter more fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a twocylinder engine of this type, which is provided with puppet-valves, is adapted to use gas, and may be ignited by electricity. The

kind of valves and the particular kind of igniter, however, may be changed as practice may dictate. Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking in the direction indicated by arrow 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of the right-hand cylinder, the piston thereof, and the compression-cavity of the parts shown in Fig. 1, including the base connecting the cylinders on broken line 5 6, Fig. 2, and also shows a part of a vertical section of the lefthand cylinder with its piston, together with an electric igniter and the valve and electricigniter chambers, the crank-pins and main shaft and piston connecting-rod pins throughout the figure being shown in cross-section on broken line 5 6.

Similar numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings the cylinders 7 and 8 are in this instance integral with the base, in which is located an independent compressioncavity, such as 9'and 10, for each cylinder, Fig. 3. Each compression-cavity in this instance has a side prolongation, in which operate the waste-gas valve 11 and the combined gas and air valve 12 and in which are also located the terminals 13 and 14; of an electric igniting'system. Between the top portions of the two cylinders-4n this instance at each side thereof'and integral therewith or firmly secured in position are cross-pieces 15 and 16, upon which is mounted in suitable boxes the main power-transmitting and speedreducing shaft 17. Projecting upwardly from the cylinders in this instance are arms 18 and 19 in Fig. l and 20 and 21 in Fig. 3, two of such arms 19 and 21 being shown in Fig. 2. At the tops of arms 18 and 20 is revolubly mounted a crank-shaft 22, and at the tops of arms 19 and 21 is mounted to.revolve a crankshaft 23. The pin of crank 24 is connected with piston 25 by connecting-rod 26, and the pin of crank 27 is connected with piston 28 by means of connecting-rod 29. There are balances, such as 80, at the opposite side of the shafts from the crank-pins to balance the cranks, the pins thereof andthe reciprocating parts comprisingthe pistons and connecting-rods.

Mounted on either one or both ends of the crank-shafts are cog-wheels, such as 31 or 32,

- a k I and engaged with these wheels is a cog wheel or wheels, such as 33, mounted on the main power-transmitting shaft 17, the number of cogs in either of the cog-wheels 33 being a multiple of the number of cogs of either of the cog-wheels 31 or 32.

The main power-transmitting and speedreducing shaft 17 is preferably geared to the crank-shafts in a proportion, respectively, as

two is to one, so that simple cams, such as 34,

secured to shaft 17, are adapted to operate the eduction-valves 11 through lever connections, such as 36, or any other means suited to transmit motion between the cams and valves once every other revolution of the crank-shafts, as is usualin gasengines of the four-cycle type.

The cog-wheels 3i and 32, attached to other in every part of their revolution, and

thereby practically neutralize any overbalancing out of the line of the reciprocating movements.

In order to additionally strengthen the arms 18 and 19 and 20 and 21, brace-rods, such as p 35, connect the upper portions of the arms of opposite engines, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be understood that the engine hereinbefore illustrated and described, although itis shown in the two-cylinder or duplex form, is intended in practice to usually have four cylinders; but since the duplication of the parts shown and described would only complicate both the drawings and description without changing the intent of the invention the quadrnplex form has not been illustrated. No battery or other source of electricity, sparking-coil, or switches operated by the engines for producing the necessary sparks at the terminals 13 and 14 at the proper time are shown, since any ordinary system of either electric or tube ignition may be used, as may be found necessary or convenient in practice.

I claim as my invention- 1. An internal-c0mbustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, a reciprocatory piston in each cylinder, a crank-shaft and crank for each cylinder and means for connecting the pistons thereto, a common powertransmitting and speed-reducing shaft having a cog-wheel connected therewith, a cogwheel connected with each crank-shaft, and in engagement with the cog-wheel of the second-named shaft, the relative proportion of the gearing between the second-named shaft and the crank-shafts being such that, the speed .of the second-named shaft is a multipie of the speed of the crank-shafts.

2. An internal-combustion engine compriserases inga plurality of cylinders, a' reciprocatory piston in each cylinder, a crank-shaft and crank for each cylinder and means for connecting the pistons thereto, a common powertransmitting and speed-reducing shaft having a cog-wheel connected therewith, a cogwheel connected with each crank-shaft and in engagement with the cog-wheel of the second-named shaft, the relative proportion of the gearing between the second-named shaft and the crank-shafts being as two is to one.

3. An internal-combustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, a reciprocatory piston in each cylinder, a crank-shaft and crank for each cylinder and means for connecting the pistons thereto, a common powertransmitting and speed-reducing shaft having a cog-wheel connected therewith, a cog-wheel connected with each crank-shaft and in en gagement with the cog-wheel connected with the second-named shaft, the speed of the second-named shaft a multiple of the speed of the crank-shafts, eduction-valves guarding orifices leading out of each of said cylinders, and means connected with said second-named shaft for operating said valves.

4. An internal-combustion engine consisting of several cylinders, reciprocatory piston and crank type of engines, a common powertransmitting and speed-reducing shaft for all the engines, a cog-wheel connected with said shaft, and a cog-wheel connected with each of said engines and in engagement with the firstnamed cog-Wheel, the relative proportion of the cog-wheel connected with said shaft, to the cog-wheels connected with the engines as two is to one, and means connected with said shaft for operating the controlling mechanism of the engines.

5. An internal-combustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, a reciprocatory piston in each cylinder, a crank-shaft and crank for each cylinder and means for connecting the pistons thereto, a common powertransmitting and speed-reducing shaft having a cog-wheel connected therewith, balances opposite the cranks for neutralizing the overbalance of the reciprocating parts, a cogwheel connected with each crank-shaft and in engagement with the cog-wheel connected with the second-named shaft, the cog-wheels and cranks so disposed, relatively, that the cranks arrive at substantially opposite positions in their revolutions at the same time, forthe purpose stated.

6. In an internal-combustion engine comprising several cylinders, reciprocatory piston and crank engines, the cylinders disposed in pairs, a common power-transmitting and speed-reducing shaft for each pair, a cogwheel connected with each engine and a cogwheel connected with the said shaft with which the engine cog-wheels engage, the said shaft revolubly mounted between the lines of the axes of each pair of cylinders.

7. In an internal-combustion engine com- IIO prising several cylinders, reciprocatory piston each engine and a cog-wheel connected with and crank engines, the cylinders disposed in the said shaft with which the engine cogpairs, cross connections joining each pair of wheels engage.

cylinders, a common power-transmitting and OSCAR SNELL. speed-reducing shaft mounted on said cross Witnesses:

connections between the lines of the axes of J. M. FITZGERALD,

the cylinders, a cog-wheel connected with H. L. BROWN. 

